Archives

Fantasy Football 2012/13 guide: Defenders

Like it or lump it, defenders are an important part of any fantasy football team – even if you, like most managers, decide to leave just three at the back…

Last season the defensive top scorers couldn’t have been more obvious. Patrice Evra- despite having a poor season by his standards – came out top after playing almost every game, scoring points from a large amount of clean sheets as well as generous handful of assists typical of a modern full-back. Other full-back-cum-wing-backs in this vein included Tottenham’s Benoit Assou Ekotto (135) and Kyle Walker (140) as well as Everton’s Leighton Baines (134).

Of these Benoit Assou Ekotto and Kyle Walker shone with the later costing a mere £5.5 million at the start of the season, compared to a very expensive fantasy football favourite Leighton Baines ($7m). Now Kyle is rightly a cool $1 more. That said, one of these four players may be considered an essential purchase.

Moving away from the obvious in the full-back department Ian Harte, despite owning a bus pass these days, is, as he always was; a set-piece specialist. He takes penalties, free-kicks and corners and was the only Reading player – despite finishing first in the championship – to feature in the team of the year starting XI. The best part is that he’ll only set you back $4.5m. If you want to go even cheaper Nathan Clyne, now at Southampton, is a pip for $4m.

So to centre-backs and aside from the obvious two (Vincent Kompany [145] and John Terry [138] who cost $7.5m and $7m respectively. Fantasy footballers may want to pick one/ or three of Rio Ferdinand (who is a bargain at $6 based on Manchester United’s opening games), Laurent Koscielny – a bargain at $5.5m, or a $6m Martin Skrtel – who may flourish under a more defensively astute Rodger’s side.